SUMMARY
The United States of America is a nation or meta-nation resting upon a foundation of ideas. The documents selected for our four days of seminar are brief, focused, and electric in their power to spark the fire of liberty, equality, and justice upon which we Americans stand. The first two paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence, basically written by Thomas Jefferson, may be history’s greatest political text. They make America rival Sparta as a people carrying their beliefs and code of ideas primarily in their hearts. Washington’s “Farewell Address” and Lincoln’s two inaugurals frame the power, duty, and vision of American leadership. Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” is America’s poem of true patriotism.

EDITION
The readings for Monday and Tuesday are LINKED HERE, but the Dover Thrift edition of Lincoln, Great Speeches is recommended for Wednesday and Thursday. ISBN: 9780486268729

READING SCHEDULE
Monday

• The Declaration of Independence

Tuesday

• Washington's "Farewell Address"

Wednesday

• Lincoln's “Address Before the Young Men’s Lyceum” (1938)*
• Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address*

Thursday

• Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address*
• Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address*

* Included in Lincoln, Great Speeches Dover Thrift Edition.